Q&A with Alex Beecroft discussion

I always struggle most with knowing what to write next, so what would you like to see?

I'd love it if you'd write my next book for me (!)

Seriously, age of sail. I'd like to read an age of sail book from a merchant seaman's point of view rather than a military sailor. Also a foreigner, maybe dutch, or german. Just my two penn'orth...

I'd like you to write a gritty novel about some depressed area in Northern England in the 30's. A la AJ cronin! Trubble a' tmill and all that.

*G* Only if you did mine in exchange.

I've got a couple of AoS novellas in the pipeline, but they're both military, and I've been thinking of doing a properly pirate one. (One of the AoS novellas is slightly piratey.) But I hadn't really considered the merchant service. Isn't Sal Davies doing something with the East India Company, or did I imagine that?

Erastes wrote: "I'd like you to write a gritty novel about some depressed area in Northern England in the 30's. A la AJ cronin! Trubble a' tmill and all that."

Seriously? There's something that had never crossed my mind before. How about Belfast and the shipyards instead?

Even better! then you aren't riffing off Cronin! Building the Titanic... all those hot rivets.... :D

Erastes wrote: "Even better! then you aren't riffing off Cronin! Building the Titanic... all those hot rivets.... :D"

*g* I was thinking of the Titanic there too :)

plenty of film coverage of that, I think, too. always handy.

Erastes wrote: "plenty of film coverage of that, I think, too. always handy."

Yes, it was an interesting documentary about Thomas Andrews that made me think of it. I have to admit that I haven't read anything by AJ Cronin, so I'm not sure what the appeal of t'mill is. (Or maybe it's just that Sons and Lovers put me off it for good.)

Oh Cronin is much more accessible than Lawrence, but still quite gloomy! Lots of people dying horrible deaths in flooded mines!

Erastes wrote: "Oh Cronin is much more accessible than Lawrence, but still quite gloomy! Lots of people dying horrible deaths in flooded mines!"

*g* I don't think I would mind the flooded mines so much. It's Lawrence's tendency to get all over-excited that I find offputting. He writes as if he's constantly having to dry his sweaty hands on his trousers. And when he's not making me think "ew, put it away," he's just boring.

Alex wrote: "Erastes wrote: "Even better! then you aren't riffing off Cronin! Building the Titanic... all those hot rivets.... :D"

*g* I was thinking of the Titanic there too :)"

oooh this sounds good!

I enjoyed The Witch's Boy so much that I'd love to see something else in that world. Or something similar. Can't wait for Under The Hill as was.

18th century London, the slave-trade and the building of a great estate, with male-male characters.

Nick wrote: "18th century London, the slave-trade and the building of a great estate, with male-male characters."

Oh, thanks Nick! That's an interesting thought. I could see myself doing something annoying like pairing a slaver with an abolitionist, and setting at least half of it in Jamaica, though.

Your Beecroftliness:

A humble request from a delighted reader...please set something in an Edwardian country house-murder kind of mode. Mr Chuffington the impecunious cousin after Lord Felchingdale, heir to the Duke of Omnium, at the time George and Mary went to Bavaria for their niece's wedding, at which the Duke chases the strapping Bavarian footmen, or summat li' that.

Richard wrote: "Your Beecroftliness:

A humble request from a delighted reader...please set something in an Edwardian country house-murder kind of mode. Mr Chuffington the impecunious cousin after Lord Felchingdal..."

LOL! That does sound like lots of fun, and I've always promised myself I would branch out into mystery. A big house story sounds ideal to start with. Thanks, Richard! I'll bear it in mind.

Alex, Big fan. buying and reading your stories as they become avail, automatic.

I want to ask about your Under the Hill stories. Just finished II, and first off, I loved the WWII motif, even the separation between the lovers.

Trying to avoid a spoiler here--was very disappointed in your resolution, knowing it was not a bad ending, just really not the one I was waiting and hoping for. Have you heard any of that?

NOt just piping up to complain, however. Book 2 leaves a lot of room for further developments. Any plans for that?

Thanks for all the wonderful reading and especially the care for authenticity. Adds so much.

Alex, please bring us another of your seagoing historicals. Have you read any of M. Kei's sailing ship stories. The first three are terrific. (But I'd still rather have a new one from you!)

Candice wrote: "Alex, Big fan. buying and reading your stories as they become avail, automatic.

I want to ask about your Under the Hill stories. Just finished II, and first off, I loved the WWII motif, even the s..."

Hi Candace! Sorry I didn't reply to this before. I only just saw it.

I did end UtH with a feeling that I would like to leave things open for a possible follow up to give Geoff a happy ending. Is that the sort of thing you were thinking of when it wasn't what you expected it would be? I haven't heard the same from other people, but I am aware that it was a bitter-sweet ending in the sense that Chris and Geoff end up separated. What were you expecting to happen?